Glenn Spencer, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (USCC), expressed skepticism regarding the Teamsters union's strike against Amazon, highlighting that many participants are not Amazon employees. The statement was made on December 19.
"The Teamsters claim to have launched ‘The Largest Strike Against Amazon in American History," said Spencer. "Whether the “strike” succeeds in delaying any holiday packages is open to question. News reports indicate that many of the locations targeted by the Teamsters had a few dozen “strikers” on hand, with business going on as usual. won't be the last time the Teamsters try to conjure up a strike at Amazon by people who don't actually work there."
On December 19, 2024, workers at seven U.S. Amazon facilities, including locations in New York, Atlanta, and San Francisco, initiated a strike during the holiday rush. According to Reuters, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters organized this protest, describing it as the "largest-ever" against Amazon. The union aimed to address alleged unfair treatment of employees and sought contract negotiations.
According to Spencer's article for the USCC, the strike primarily involves individuals who "work at contractors that provide services to Amazon" and are "not Amazon employees." He noted similarities with a previous instance in 2023 when the union claimed to have "unionized" Amazon but had only organized drivers employed by a third-party contractor, Battle Tested Strategies, which had no affiliation with Amazon. Reports also indicate that some participants are Teamsters members from entirely different industries.
A Reddit user commented on the situation, noting that drivers involved in the strike "technically aren’t even employed by Amazon," as they receive pay and benefits from Delivery Service Partners (DSPs). The user likened this scenario to an Instacart worker demanding higher pay and benefits from Safeway.
In response to labor concerns, Udit Madan, Amazon’s vice president of worldwide operations, announced a $2.2 billion investment aimed at increasing hourly wages and benefits. Madan said that "hourly members of our front-line team will be getting at least an additional $1.50 per hour starting this month." The investment also includes enhanced benefits such as health, vision, and dental insurance starting on day one and expanded mental health support services.
Spencer is recognized as the senior vice president of the Employment Policy Division at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. His responsibilities include overseeing policy work on labor relations, wage and hour laws, worker safety, and other employment issues. Before joining the Chamber in 2007, he served as deputy chief of staff and later chief of staff to Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao at the U.S. Department of Labor. Spencer holds a Master of Arts in International Affairs from The George Washington University.
